dawdling 1 of 2

adjective

as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless

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dawdling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dawdle
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure

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2
as in idling
to spend time doing nothing accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dawdling
Adjective
The third and final wave of a dawdling Pacific storm will hit San Diego County Thursday afternoon, wrapping up four days of soaking rains, heavy snow, tree-snapping winds and lightning that arced through the darkest hours of the night, the National Weather Service says. — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Gvardiol looked jittery early on, rallied a little to break up some dangerous Porto attacks, but then started giving the ball away again and was booked for a needless pull after being caught dawdling in possession. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025 Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling
  1. leisurely
  2. delaying
  3. idling
  4. slow
  5. lingering
  6. loafing
  7. dragging
  8. lounging
Adjective
  • Jalsa has excellent food, leisurely service, and a robot waiter of unclear utility.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The exterior is well equipped for leisurely days—including a shaded hammock, large deck, and a fire pit with Adirondack chairs beneath a string of bistro lights.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of leisurely
Verb
  • The daughter, Shannon Amos, faults her brother, Kelly Christopher Amos, for delaying medical care while isolating the actor from his family and friends in the years leading up to his death.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • More and more parents are delaying vaccines and citing logistics, outsourcing the decision to the parent who isn’t in the room or simply wanting more time.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of idling
Adjective
  • On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • While Beverly Hills and West Hollywood bounced back after the pandemic, Santa Monica continues to struggle with retail vacancies and lingering economic woes.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The rich tomato sauce brought plenty of flavor, the Italian sausage added a savory bite and the Calabrian peppers gave the dish a lingering heat without overwhelming everything else.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of loafing
Verb
  • He’s also been known to engage with those who might not be fans of his comedic stylings, publicly arguing back and forth with civilians, dragging them on his social media for his fans to see.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Beaches typically go through a seasonal cycle with powerful winter waves dragging sand out to sea and more mild summer waves depositing the sand back onshore.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Your Photography by Kimberly Kalan Maison Flambeau has multiple outdoor dining and lounging spots, the most notable of which are its splash pool and sauna.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging

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Cite this Entry

“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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